The BBC is incapable of learning its lesson over filth

Such was the ferocity of the backlash from the licence fee-paying public over the Radio 2 broadcasters, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, leaving obscene messages on the answering machine of 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs that the BBC belatedly apologised.

Perhaps the apology was genuine - if not that they felt genuine sympathy for Sachs - atleast a realisation that they had affronted the public for whom they rely on for their large salaries.

They might have thought Brand and Russell were being 'edgy' but they could hardly escape the evidence that the public thought the behaviour pathetic and disgusting.

'Video cast' of comedian Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross broadcasting in the studio

But on Sunday evening John Barrowman, the 41-year-old actor who plays Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood, was appearing on The Switch, presented by Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac on Radio 1. The interview was broadcast at 8.15pm when many of his child fans would be listening.

What did Grimshaw regard as a suitable question to ask? "You're famous, we're told, for getting your willy out in interviews. Is this going to happen today? Should Annie be careful?" Barrowman responded: "Is the webcam on?" and when told it was added: "All right, I'll get it out for you then, no problem" and proceeded to expose his genitalia amidst much excited encouragement.

Public service broadcasting is an immensely privileged status. It means over £3 billion a year is extorted from the public via the licence fee to fund a vast monolithic entity. This carries with it a special responsibility.

The current licence fee of £139.50 needs to be phased out. This does not mean closing down the BBC, which includes some excellent programmes, but it does mean making it pay its way. Last year BBC Worldwide achieved sales of £916 million as an income stream for the Corporation to plough back into programming and that could be built on. The American channel HBO has achieved innovative, quality programming while being subscription based.

The BBC at present is also just too bloated. It needs to be broken up with Radios 1 and 2 hived off to those capable of maintaining an acceptable standard of decency over what is broadcast over the public airwaves.

Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs and his wife Melody were appalled by the obscene messages Brand and Ross left on their answer phone

Like the fable of the scorpion and the frog, the BBC relies on the public but seems incapable of respecting its values. When the frog is helping the scorpion cross the river the scorpion stings the frog even though it causes them to drown. Asked why, the scorpion replies: "Because it is in my nature."

The BBC will continue to be beset by these problems because it is out of control. There might be a diktat from the top to operate within limits not to "cross the line." But even if they wanted to, the BBC producers as a class are incapable of doing so. They have lost their moral compass.

The BBC staff may be perfectly versed in political correctness but have lost their judgment when it comes to common decency. The organisation is beset by institutionalised filth presided over by those who feel they are being terribly modern and sophisticated, commissioning ever deeper into the sewer.

So asking the BBC to get its house in order is naive. It can't. In some ways the extraordinary thing is that they have got away with so much for so long. If you or I had engaged in the sort of harassment that Brand and Ross engaged in, we could have expected the police to become involved. Why weren't Brand and Ross arrested instead of the police spending their time with Tory MP Damian Green? There will be more behaviour of this kind until eventually the politicians bring in real reforms to the way the BBC is run.